Sensors Advance forBiomarker Monitoring

By Rob Irwin, Engineering Manager, Molex

Technology developments in the rapidly evolving Medtech industry now make it possible to replace a “one-size-fits-all”
approach to fitness and healthcare. Developers are now able to
create customized solutions using biomarker sensing for more
individualized monitoring of one’s physiology. Biomarkers are
specific physiological indicators used to determine risk factors
for conditions or illness. They can provide individuals and their
physicians with important data to more quickly identify or corroborate a condition or disease that may require intervention in
the form of treatment.

Physicians routinely use biomarkers to diagnose and monitorpatients who may have cancer, heart disease, or previouslyundetectable signs of diabetes. Noninvasive biomarker sensorsthat accurately measure changes in sweat and other biologicalfluids, can allow for a more personalized—also known as a “pa-tient-centered”—approach to fitness goals and healthcare man-agement. Early detection of certain biomarkers can improvethe efficacy of treatment plans, and reduce the incident rate andhospitalizations due to adverse events. Early detection of lifethreatening diseases can potentially save lives.Popular wearable fitness devices detect metrics such asnumber of steps, heart rate, and calories burned. Today there’sgrowing interest in wearable devices that go beyond measuringbiometric parameters to measuring biomarkers in bodily fluids.Blood, sweat, saliva, and other biofluids are widely used forclinical analysis in healthcare settings. Continuous monitoringof biomarkers via bodily fluids is painless and non-invasive, andcan help assure patient compliance—all major advantages forpeople who are at risk for or living with chronic conditions, andhelpful as well for their physicians. The successful achievement ofaccurate and noninvasive continuous monitoring of biomarkerswould represent enormous advances for healthcare, and result insignificant market opportunities for sensor device developers.

The unique characteristics of sweat allow for noninvasive
rapid collection and testing when compared with blood or
other biofluids. Researchers, startups, and industry leaders are
actively working on projects to create and test sensors capable
of measuring various biomarkers in human sweat. Several prototype devices have leveraged highly sensitive carbon nanotube
sensing and developments in the fabrication of thin, flexible
silicon die to achieve moderate progress. Figure 1 shows the
typical make-up of a biomarker sensor.